The Rural Voice, 2004-07, Page 56GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email: grey@ota.on ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Grey County by the GCFA
Ontario budget impacts farmers
Ontario's Finance Minister, Hon.
Greg Sorbara. delivered a mix of
good and bad news for Ontario
agriculture in his May 18 budget.
For tobacco farmers. the bad news
came in two shapes - what wasn't
said about transition funding. and the
increase in tobacco taxes.
The budget provided $20 million
over two years for implementation of
the Nutrient Management
regulations. OFA isn't able to say if
this is an acceptable amount because
the details of the regulations aren't
available - without knowing the
requirements. no one knows how
much farmers will be required to
spend to become compliant.
OFA is pleased the province will
now accept the OFA Membership
card as proof for Provincial Sales Tax
exempt status for farm -related
purchases.
Elimination of the land transfer tax
on intergenerational farm sales was a
welcome part of the budget -
something OFA had lobbied the
government for over many years.
OFA in federal election mode
The Ontario Federation of
Agriculture worked closely with the
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
(CFA) and all County and Regional
Federations across the province
during the run up to the June 28,
2004 election.
CFA produced an election booklet
for use in bringing candidates from
all parties up to speed on agricultural
issues. Canadian agriculture is losing
producers (10.2 per cent fewer
farmers from 1996 to 2001). and the
profitability is declining rapidly -
Stats Canada reported May 27 that
net cash income for Canadian farmers
dropped by 43.3 per cent for 2003 to
the lowest level in more than 25
years.
CFA is calling on the Federal
Government to:
• Engage farmers and their
organizations in a real partnership in
developing business -risk manage-
ment programs
• Provide support through both
domestic and international policies -
marketing structures that allow
producers to get greater returns from
the market.
• Support import controls. pricing
mechanism and production discipline
• Commit to work in partnership with
producers to examine the underlying
causes of low -net farm income. and
to develop strategies to overcome
those causes
• Fix the Pest Management
Regulatory Agency so many safe and
effective pest control products, kept
off the market in Canada, while U..S.
and E.U. competitors are allowed to
use them. Canadian producers need a
harmonized system across competing
countries.
• Develop a more realistic approach
by Canadian government officials
to enforcing the Fisheries Act where
it relates to livestock near
waterways.0
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdale
Members are welcome to attend
52 THE RURAL VOICE
OFA will be monitoring the
province's use of the health service
premiums - it is critical that rural
health care facilities and services get
an equitable share of the funds raised
by that premium.0
OFA UPDATE
Rain delays farm work
Weather can be added to the list of
problems Ontario farmers have experienced
in recent months - especially those in
southwestern and central areas.
The May 24 weekend saw rainfall
amounts equivalent to a normal month's
precipitation. Places like Coldwater, north of
Barrie, received close 10 200 mm of rain
while areas near Stratford and Windsor had
close to 100 mm.
Farmers from the Essex County area,
through Niagara Region and up through
Simcoe, Durham and Peterborough counties
are facing planting delays that will likely
harm potential yields and crop quality.
Eligible Ontario farmers should be sure
they are enrolled in the CAIS program for
the income protection it offers.0
OFA, CFA take position
on WTO negotiations
OFA and CFA representatives met with
World Trade Organization officials in
Geneva, Switzerland, in late May to move
negotiations forward in the next round of
WTO talks.
Some of the thoughts resulting from the
sessions in Geneva:
• Canada's position is under consideration
by many WTO members - we have the
potential to provide real solutions to the
competing interests at the negotiations
• The Canadian negotiating team is more
confident than ever that the Canadian
position addresses the needs of WTO
members' export -oriented commodities and
sensitive agricultural sectors
• Creative ideas will be needed to achieve a
framework by the end of July
• "We are working with our government and
negotiators to present progressive ideas and
methods," CFA President Bob Friesen said
after the Geneva meetings.0